ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the difference in the circumstances of the conversions of the Roman Empire in the fourth century and before, the barbarians within the Roman Empire from the fifth century onwards, and the conversion of people's outside the former Roman Empire from the eighth century onwards seems to make it necessary to treat them separately. The importance of Constantine's conversion, and of his and his successors policies to the Church, is a strong card in favour of a top-down model for the conversion of the Roman Empire. The extent to which Christianity was viewed as a success-religion in other matters as well as military victories is apparent from two passages from England. The first is Bede's account of the speech made by the pagan priest Coifi at the council when it was decided that Edwin should seek his own and his kingdoms conversion to Christianity.
